expectations for the first presidential debate next week, in a memo sent to quote interested parties, romney campaign senior adviser, bette myers said, quote, president obama is a uniquely gifted speaker and widely regarded as one of the most talented communicators in modern history. this will be the eighth one of on one presidential debate of his political career. for mitt romney, it will be his first, end quote. really? obama is a more gifted speaker than oh, ronald reagan? paul steinhauser joins me now. you have the memo. read me more, we want to know. >> interesting not just the campaign doing this, the candidates lowering expectations. take a listen to mitt romney himself over the campaign trail the last couple of days. >> he's president of the united states. he's a very effective speaker. >> he's a very eloquent speaker. so, i'm sure, in the debates as last time with senator mccain, he'll be very eloquent. >> reporter: what they're trying to do is lowering the bar, expectations, so if mitt romney does better in this debates next wednesday in denver. >> caller: they will say it's a grea